Lance Armstrong fever hits Adelaide

There's a new sporting mantra doing the rounds in Adelaide. It goes something like this.

If you didn't see Bradman bat, if you didn't see Ali fight and if you didn't see Phar Lap run, then don't miss seeing Lance Armstrong.

The American is coming to Adelaide to race in the Tour Down Under this month, marking his return to professional cycling more than three years after retiring in 2005.

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The seven-times Tour de France champion is considered among the world's all-time sporting greats and South Australian Premier Mike Rann has declared his participation in Adelaide the biggest sporting event in the state's history.

That makes it bigger than the the first Formula One Grand Prix in 1985, bigger than the AFL premierships for Port Adelaide or the Adelaide Crows and bigger than any of the state's Olympics triumphs.

Not bad for what is still a minority sport, despite the exploits of local cycling heroes on the world stage including Stuart O'Grady, Cadel Evans and Robbie McEwen.

But then Lance Armstrong is simply a sporting colossus.

His seven tour victories are two more than any other rider in the century-long history of cycling's ultimate test.

During those victories, the Texan and his team controlled the peleton in a manner rarely witnessed.

Once installed in the race leader's famous yellow jersey, he ferociously guarded his advantage, his long-time US Postal team dubbed the Blue Train for the way it gathered at the front to set a relentless pace and protect its star.

For most of the world's best riders, to win the tour once would be a career crowning achievement.

Each July, it takes the world's cycling greats on a 3000km odyssey around France with occasional sorties into neighbouring countries.

An estimated one million spectators gather along the sometimes 200km plus stage route each day and millions more watch live on television.

Such is the status and difficulty of the event, which climbs some of the highest peaks in the Alps and the Pyrenees, it has been likened to running a marathon every day for almost three weeks.

And so rich are the rewards from sponsorships, endorsements and appearance fees, most winners rarely pocket tour prize money, tradition almost demanding that it be passed on to teammates.

So to win seven times and in succession is an astonishing achievement.

Armstrong has also done what other greats before him failed to do - take professional cycling to the United States and to the world outside Europe.

When he famously returned from cancer in 1999 to score his first tour win, Armstrong's story was already the stuff of sporting legend.

Six more victories later he had become the most successful cyclist in the tour's history and a worldwide phenomenon.

His celebrity status allowed him to dine with presidents and other world leaders and had him dating rock music and film stars.

So when he announced his comeback to professional racing, the worldwide interest was no surprise.

Organisers of the Tour Down Under expect a major increase in spectators watching every stage, while the global TV audience is likely to double as a direct result of Armstrong's participation.

Thousands of local cyclists have already signed up for the Challenge Tour, where they get to ride one of the tour's stages ahead of the race itself, after a decision to allow unlimited entries this year.

Towns and suburbs hosting stage starts and finishes have forecast a financial windfall for local traders while Adelaide hotels will also benefit from a big influx of interstate and international visitors.

From when he arrives on January 10, Lance spotting is expected to turn into a sport in itself across Adelaide while some will get to rub shoulders with the star at two dinners, including one with a $250 a head price tag.

For the first time, Tour Down Under officials will log with police the training routes to be used by Armstrong's Astana team so fans can be kept at a discreet distance.

While race organisers are also planning for a big increase in the number of journalists and TV crews covering the race, given it will be Armstrong's first serious event in his comeback bid.

Local cycling star O'Grady said the American probably doesn't understand what he's in for when he arrives in Adelaide and just how many people will come out just to watch him race.

"Australians love their sport and South Australian in particular," he said.